- See:
Transdermal * For
HTN, opioid & tobacco withdrawl; - Central alpha adrenergic receptor agonist; * Adult: 0.05-0.10 mg PO bid-qid adjusted daily by 0.1-0.2 mg increments - initial oral doses of 0.1 mg are given twice daily and adjusted to usual maintenance dose of 0.2 to 0.8 mg/day; - maximum recommended oral doses are 2.4 mg/day; - See
Transdermal Patch; - HTN
Emergency: 0.1-0.2 mg PO then 0.1 mg q1 hr upto 0.8 mg
- Precautions: * Note that must taper when d/c'ing or will get
rebound hypertension; - if discontinued abruptly, severe hypertension may occur, therefore, drug should be tapered; * Max dose 2.4 mg/day; * more effective for
HTN when combined with diuretic; * Note side effects dry mouth, drowsiness, sedation occur frequently; * severe renal insufficiency requires a reduced dose;
- PHARMACOKINETICS: - onset of
Antihypertensive activity is 30 to 60 minutes after PO or IV dosing; - peak antihypertensive activity occurs within 2 to 4 h; - duration of
Antihypertensive effect is 6 to 10 h; - oral bioavailability ranges from 65% to 96%; - elimination half-life is 6 to 23 h; - hepatic metabolism to inactive metabolites is followed by renal and fecal excretion of unchanged compound (65% and 22%, respectively).
- DOSAGE IN RENAL FAILURE - patients with severe renal failure (GFR < 10 mL/minute) should receive 50% of usual dose of clonidine given at the normal dosage interval;
